Wind-wheel



(No Model.)

RQG. KIRKWOOD.

V WIND WHEEL. No. 254,985. Patented Mar. 14,1882,

Inventor: q 194 7 &Wm u

N. PETERS. Fholn-Lllhagmphcr. Washin ton. D. C,

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE ROBERT KIRKVVOOD, OF ELLIOOTT CITY, MARYLAND.

WIND-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 254,985, dated March 14, 1882. Application filed August 3,1881. (No model.)

. act description of the same.

My improvement relates to the manner of constructing the wheel, and has for its object increased durability and cheapness of the same.

Wind-wheels have heretofore been generally made of wood,though I am aware they have also been made of metal, and for that reason I do not herein claim anything as to the material, further than it has particular relation to the manner of employing it in theconstruction of said wheel.

My invention therefore consists in a windwheel the frame whereof is composed of strips of sheet-iron joined together by radial arms, part of which extend to the central metallic hub, to which they are rigidly attached, and provided with vanes of sheet metal supported at the edges by attachment to radial rods which extend from the inner to the outer rim.

That others may fully understand my improvement, I will more particularly describe it, having reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein-- Figure l is a perspective of my wheelin working position. Fig. 2 is a partial section parallel with the axis. Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 are details.

The framework for mounting my .wheel (shown in the drawings) is a structure in common use, and does not form a part of my present invention. It is shown merely by way of illustration, and does not require any description herein.

My wheel is provided with a central solid metallic hub, A, into which the radial arms B are rigidly set. The number of these arms is greater or less, according to the diameter of the wheel; but 1 think eight arms is a proper number for wheels of ordinary size. An inner rim, 0, of sheet-iron, which for a wheel ten feet in diameter may be one-eighth of an inch thick and four inches wide, is placed upon the arm B at a distance from the hub equal to about one-third the radius of the wheel. The arms B may pass through holes made in the rim 0,

or may be attached otherwise, if preferred. The outer rim is attached to the arms B at their extremities, and said rim is composed of two strips, D D, of iron, which, if the same thickness as the inner rim and each one inchin width, will, I think,be of sufficient strength. It is evident, however, that these dimensions may be changed as experience or particular duty may require; and it is also apparent that they may be made of angle-iron, and the stiffness thereby increased. The rims D are attached together by stays E, which form also the direct attachment to the extremities of the arms B.

The parts above described constitute the frame of the wheel. The immediate modeof attachment of the parts to each other may be by nuts, riveting, or otherwise, as preferred.

The vanes F are composed of sheet metal, and they extend from the inner to the outer rim. They are of such width at the outer and inner ends as will cause them to reach from the center of one rim D to the center of the other rim D measuring upon a line bearing the proper obliquity to the axis of the wheel. For a ten-foot wheel this will give a width of vane about thirteen inches at the outer end and a length of about three feet two inches. The longitudinal or radial edges of the vanes are turned or rolled over in a tubular way, so as to embrace and inclose the straining or supporting rods G, the ends whereof are secured in the outer and inner rims, respectively, by screw-nuts or otherwise. By these imeansthe vanes are securely held in position and the frame of the wheel greatly strengthened.

By the mode of construction described above the wheel becomes in effect a trussed wheelthat is, its parts are strengthened by strainingbolts, and, as is well known, a givenstrength to resist known strains can be secured in that way with less material than in any other.

If the vanes were extended to the central hub, as they might be. the expense and weight of the wheel would be increased without any 5 corresponding increase of power derived from the vane-surface contiguous to the center. I therefore place the inner rim, 0, at a distance from the center equal to one-third the radius, or thereabout, and leave all within said rim an ICO open skeleton, through which the wind may and radial arms springing therefrom, an inner pass with the least possible obstruction. rim of sheet-iron attached to said arms, and.

Having now described my invention, what two narrow outer rims of equal peripheral I claim as new islength, united and joined to the radial arms by 1. A wind-wheel provided with sheet-metal cross-stays, combined with vanes of sheet-iron inner and outer rims supported upon radial attached at; the longitudinal edges to rods arms which spring from a central hub, comwhich at their ends are secured to the inner bined with sheet-metal vanes supportedattheir and outer rims, respectively. longitudinal edges by straining-rods, which at I B. G. KIRKWOOD. their extremities are secured to the inner and I Witnesses: outer rims, respectively. JAMES E. VANSANT,

2. Awind-Wheel provided with acentral hub J AS. G. KIRKWOOD. 

